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Chapter 68: The Three-and-a-Half-Inch Adeptus
🕑 Added 2025-04-15 07:00:13 +0000 UTCLumine was completely baffled by the boy's question. That person? Who are you talking about? Can you be more specific?
"Shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking questions?" Lumine crossed her arms, putting on a slightly teasing expression.
The boy remained silent for a moment before finally saying, "Xiao."
"That's it?" Lumine was stunned. Despite his youthful appearance, he spoke like an old man—terse and to the point. Was this really his idea of an introduction?
"You still haven't answered my question," Xiao said again, his eyes fixed on Lumine, making her feel uneasy.
"Alright, alright, I'll answer. But you have to tell me who 'that person' is. Otherwise, how can I answer?" Lumine sighed, feeling exhausted just talking to him.
"The Divine General."
"Huh?"
"That person is the Divine General."
Xiao had crossed paths with Yun Fan a few times and remembered his aura. Initially, Xiao had reservations about this "Divine General" who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. However, out of respect for Rex Lapis, he had reluctantly accepted him.
But the moment Xiao truly acknowledged Yun Fan from the bottom of his heart was when he had been driven mad by the karmic debt from his demon-slaying duties.
At the time, Xiao had been ready to end his own life. Just as he raised his Primordial Jade Winged-Spear to strike his chest, a long blade appeared in his vision, effortlessly knocking the spear from his hands.
Though his consciousness had been hazy, his years of experience fighting alongside Rex Lapis allowed him to recognize the martial technique used—it was Rex Lapis's "Rain of Stone" spear technique.
The enraged Xiao clashed with the figure, but even in his enhanced state, he couldn't land a single blow.
Finally, with a shout of "Blades—know no mercy!" and a flash of lightning, Xiao lost consciousness. When he awoke, the karmic debt within him had been suppressed once more.
Recalling this, Xiao turned his gaze back to Lumine, waiting for her answer.
"The Divine General? I'm sorry, but I don't know who you're talking about," Lumine said, tapping her lips as she thought carefully. She couldn't recall anyone by that name in her memory.
Lumine wasn't lying. After all, Yun Fan had never revealed his identity to her, and the Knights of Favonius had assumed Lumine already knew, given her close relationship with him. Thus, no one had ever mentioned it.
So, among all the people Lumine had met, only she and Paimon were unaware of Yun Fan's identity.
"Is that so?" Xiao nodded, not pressing further. He could tell Lumine wasn't lying.
"Farewell."
"Wait, who exactly is the Divine General—" Lumine reached out to stop Xiao, but in an instant, the teal-haired boy vanished into a wisp of green light, disappearing without a trace.
"What a strange person. I'll have to ask Paimon about this. She might know about the Divine General," Lumine muttered, shaking her head as she turned and headed back to their room.
As soon as she opened the door, a small figure rushed into her arms, and she felt something wet on her chest.
"Waaah! Traveler, where did you go? Paimon thought you abandoned me! Waaah!" Paimon cried, tears and snot streaming down her face as she clung to Lumine.
"There, there, I wouldn't leave you behind," Lumine said, steadying herself after Paimon's sudden tackle. She gently patted Paimon's back. This little companion was so sensitive—she thought she'd been abandoned after just a short while.
"Traveler, where did you go?" Paimon finally stopped crying after a while, wiping her tears with her tiny hands as she looked up at Lumine.
"Paimon, have you heard of someone called the Divine General?" Lumine asked, placing her hands on Paimon's shoulders and looking at her seriously.
"The Divine General?"
Lumine nodded and recounted everything that had happened on the rooftop, including Xiao's appearance and demeanor. She then looked at Paimon expectantly.
"The name 'Divine General' appeared in Liyue about two and a half to three years ago. The exact details are unknown, but according to rumors, he's a powerful being acknowledged by Rex Lapis. However, he's never shown himself publicly, so most people only know him by that title," Paimon explained, scratching her head.
"Is that so?" Lumine nodded, deep in thought. She was still very curious about this. Why had that boy suddenly asked about her relationship with the Divine General? Had she met him before? And who exactly was he?
As she pondered these questions, Lumine soon felt a headache coming on. She really wasn't good at this kind of thing.
As for Paimon... she had already stopped thinking about it. After all, thinking too hard might make her brain hurt.
"Uh, Traveler, maybe we should get something to eat first? Paimon's getting hungry," Paimon said cautiously, seeing Lumine standing there like a statue.
"Ah, right, let's go eat," Lumine said, snapping out of her thoughts. She realized her stomach was empty too—she must have been too distracted to notice earlier.
The two headed to the dining area and enjoyed a hearty Liyue-style breakfast. Afterward, Lumine led Paimon to the front desk to check out. However, the person at the counter wasn't Huai'an, the manager they had met the previous night, but a woman with light brown hair.
"Hello, we'd like to check out," Paimon greeted the woman first. After a good night's rest and a delicious meal, she was back to her usual energetic self.
"Of course. May I have your names, please?" the woman asked with a gentle smile, her warmth making them feel instantly at ease.
"I'm Lumine, and this is Paimon," Lumine introduced, pointing to herself and Paimon.
"Ah, Miss Lumine and Miss Paimon. I'm Verr Goldet, the owner of Wangshu Inn. Please give me a moment, and I'll process your checkout," Verr Goldet said, her eyes flickering with a subtle glint.
"Huh? So you're the owner, Miss Verr Goldet?" Paimon looked surprised.
"That's right. Owner, not 'owner's wife,'" Verr Goldet said with a smile, handing them the completed checkout documents.
"All done. You're welcome to stay with us again."
Verr Goldet escorted them to the elevator and watched them leave before returning to the counter.
She took out a piece of paper from a drawer and began writing something. After finishing, she sealed the letter with wax.
Knock, knock, knock. She lightly tapped the table, and a shadowy figure appeared behind her.
Handing the envelope to the figure, Verr Goldet instructed, "Make sure this letter reaches Lady Ningguang."
"Understood," the figure nodded before disappearing like a shadow.
"The Honorary Knight of Mondstadt, the Traveler who helped Mondstadt overcome the dragon crisis. Truly, appearances can be deceiving," Verr Goldet murmured to herself. What business did Miss Lumine have in Liyue? But that wasn't her concern. After all, even if the sky fell, there were taller people to hold it up.
